Objects thrown at you

[BikeMomma]

What a waste of good brew. Assuming it was good, anyway....

Last year, we had a rash of incidents in our group, ranging from altercations with motorcyclists, empty water bottles, full soda bottles, FULL liter-size water bottles thrown from a car going 60-65 mph (thankfully they missed the target), and a half-full 1/2 gallon jug of orange juice (broke on impact, of course). Yellers are a normal occurance -- we wave exaggeratedly...and I usually mutter "a-hole" for emphasis.

After two or so incidents, I emailed a police commander I work with and asked him to please relay word of the problem to other law enforcement agencies (Sheriff and CHP), which he did. I also told him our regular ride routes on certain days and where you will generally find cyclists out & about. Shortly thereafter, we noticed more patrol cars on those roads.

In the wee-season this year, we managed to get half a license plate number from a yeller's car (I think they threw something too), called the CHP with our cell phones, and they showed up in about 5 minutes to take a report - he happened to be in the area.

The response from law enforcement around here has been amazing, and it has really strengthened our relationship with them. One officer finds time to catch speeders while he patrols -- waves to us from his ticket pad as we pass.

This spring/summer season has been better, but there was a verbal altercation with some knot-heads in a van a few weeks ago.

Be careful out there, but for those who this thread is scaring -- don't let the idiots win. Get out, ride your bike, and remember to smile big.

~BikeMomma

[Crankin]

I was "egged" by some teens crouching behind a rock wall, in Acton. I thought a rock or some other object had hit my helmet. My husband insisted we go back and check it out, and we saw the remains of the eggs. We rang the bell of the house, but no one answered. The kids were in there, though. We checked inside their mailbox for the name of the family.
I should have called the police, but I didn't. But, about 2 months later, I was at the pharmacy and saw a car with the family's name on their license plate (it's a very unusual name). I left a note on the car, signing my name. About 5 minutes after I got home, I had a phone call from the aunt of these kids; it was her car I saw. She explained the family situation (bad divorce, wild kids) and told me she would take care of it. I received a written apology from the kids.
This is why I live in a small town!